Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital Opens Korea's First Intractable Pruritus Center

Beyond Dermatology: Collaborative Care with Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry
Precise Diagnosis of Chronic Itch Lasting More Than Six Weeks

Hallym University Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital has opened the nation's first multidisciplinary collaborative center dedicated to patients with intractable chronic pruritus.

The hospital announced on May 13 that it established the "Intractable Pruritus Center" on April 29, centering around the Department of Dermatology, with participation from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry.

At the opening ceremony of the Intractable Pruritus Center at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, officials are taking a commemorative photo. Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Chronic pruritus can be associated not only with skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis or chronic urticaria, but also with a variety of systemic conditions, including kidney and liver diseases, endocrine disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders. In particular, if symptoms persist for more than six weeks, they can lead to a decline in quality of life due to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression.

The Intractable Pruritus Center systematically identifies the association with systemic diseases by conducting a comprehensive analysis based on dermatological evaluation of the characteristics of the itch, onset, aggravating factors, and accompanying symptoms. When necessary, the center performs blood tests, allergy patch tests, skin hydration diagnostics, skin biopsies, imaging studies, neurological assessments, and mental health evaluations.

The center focuses especially on treating severe atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, nodular prurigo, contact dermatitis, occupational dermatitis, post-burn pruritus, and chronic pruritus of unknown cause that do not respond to conventional treatments. For patients whose symptoms have worsened due to repeated symptomatic treatments or who have undergone long-term steroid therapy, the center re-establishes the treatment direction through an accurate diagnosis.

Kim Hyewon, Director of the Intractable Pruritus Center, stated, "Pruritus is not merely a skin problem; it can be a sign of systemic disease. If the itch does not respond to conventional treatments or is severe enough to disrupt sleep, a proper diagnosis of the underlying cause is necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.